Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at a new proposal on recreational sales in Ohio, treating ADHD with cannabis, a cannabis-themed gift guide and more. Enjoy the holiday of your choice. We’ll see you in the new year. Peace, love and soul from here.
Cannabis and Politics
Nature, so we are told, abhors a vacuum. So does, it seems, the cannabis industry and state legislators, particularly when that vacuum involves potential revenue.
For example, last month Ohio voters approved an initiated statute that allowed adults 21 and older to use and grow cannabis.
After the state legislature made a series of changes to the bill—some say gutted it—it was expected that stores selling recreational cannabis probably wouldn’t open until late next summer or the fall of 2024. That’s because the Division of Cannabis Control has to set rules on licensing, product standards, packaging and more.
We know, “They also serve, who only stand and wait.” However, if John Milton was writing today he might have added, “They also serve who write legislators, cross state lines to buy cannabis somewhere else where it is legal or go to the dreaded “Black Market” where the cannabis is not regulated and the purchase is not taxed.”
Now, after due deliberation, that august body that is the Republican-controlled Ohio State legislature had a change of heart and crafted a plan with that most accommodating type of room—wiggle room.
According to Kyle Jaeger, writing for Marijuana Moment, Ohio’s GOP-controlled Senate has passed a revised bill that would allow adults to start buying cannabis from existing medical dispensaries in as soon as 90 days.
Ah yes, if you approve it they come, they will buy cannabis in state and you can begin to tax it, and it will be good.
Jaeger notes that Sen. Rob McColley (R) stated that lawmakers’ focus “needs to be stamping out the black market” and also “protecting the access that the people of Ohioans voted for,” while ensuring that the administrative implementation “runs as efficiently as it possibly can, while protecting opportunities for Ohioans to engage in this new industry.”
Uh-huh.
Gov. Mike DeWine (R), said that while he did not support the legalization ballot initiative, “we have an obligation to follow the will of the people, unless that’s changed at some point.”
DeWine added, “But we also have an obligation to make this work and to try to protect people who don’t want to be exposed to marijuana smoke, but also the people who are consuming marijuana to make sure that it is pure, that it is in fact it is safe (sic). I think it’s a very, very good bill. And, you know, it’s an imperative that this thing get passed. What we don’t want is a situation where the black market grows.”
Uh-huh.
Jaeger also makes the point that under the revised bill, the marijuana excise tax would be set at 15 percent (up from 10 percent under the initiated statute), and local governments could levy an additional tax of up to three percent. The proposed 15 percent cultivator tax that was originally in the amendment package was removed.
Instead of “Uh-huh” make that a big “Boy Howdy.”
And that, dear friends, is how sausage is made.
More news as more news develops. A special thanks to the thoughtful and vigilant Miriam Doefield for sending the story our way.
To learn more about the revised bill, we strongly urge you to read Kyle Jaeger’s excellent reporting on this story. His article appears in the December 6, 2023 issue of Marijuana Moment.net. As always, his work is top shelf.
Medical News and Notes
There may be hopeful news for those who suffer from the condition known as ADHD. A new study suggests that a treatment program that includes cannabis may offer some relief.
According to the folks at the Mayo Clinic, adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. Adult ADHD can lead to unstable relationships, poor work or school performance, low self-esteem, and other problems.
In some cases, ADHD is not recognized or diagnosed until the person is an adult. In adults, hyperactivity may decrease, but struggles with impulsiveness, restlessness and difficulty paying attention may continue.
Recently, researchers affiliated with the Medical Cannabis Research Group, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK, Sapphire Medical Clinics, London, UK and the Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK, analyzed the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and safety outcomes in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients who were treated with cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs).
The group identified participants from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. The primary outcomes they wanted to examine were possible improvements in anxiety, sleep quality, and general health-related quality of life reported by participants at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months from baseline. Secondary outcomes assessed the incidence of adverse events caused by the treatment. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.050.
Sixty-eight patients met the inclusion criteria and participated in the study. Significant improvements were identified in general quality of life measures at 1, 3, and 6 months. Improvements were also identified in anxiety and sleep quality scores at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, Adverse events—most of which were described as “moderate” —were recorded by 11 (16.18 percent) of the participants.
The team concluded there was an association between a treatment regimen that included cannabis based medical product treatment and improvements in anxiety, sleep quality, and general quality of life as reported by the participants with ADHD.
The team did note, however, that the results must be interpreted with caution as a causative effect could be proven. These results, however, do provide additional support, they contend, for future evaluation within randomized controlled trials.
The study appeared in the December, 2023 issue of the journal Neuropsychopharmacology Reports. To read an abstract or a more detailed description of the study, click on the following link.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/npr2.12400
Holiday Gift Tips
If you have a mature cannabis consumer on your holiday gift list, Ganjapreneur can help. The publication has put together a cannabis-themed gift guide that’s divided into three categories: functional gifts for the connoisseur, gifts for the budding home cultivator and anthologies for the weed nerd.
Here are three you might consider.
For the Connoisseur
First up is a high-end, customizable grinder from HØJ that is said to revolutionize the herb grinding process. Called the KLIP, the grinder has a unique dual-blade system that “delicately” slices the herb, preserving crystal integrity which is said to ensure a fluffier grind and a more evenly burning consistency for a potent experience.
The KLIP’s magnetic accessory system offers easy-to-snap control discs and a collection mesh for varying grind sizes, from fine for cones to coarse for pipes. It’s described as a luxury experience in herb preparation, which it should be since it carries a price tag of $179.00. Clearly a gift for someone special who is willing to share.
For the Home Cultivator
Next, there’s the Budtrainer Big Bud Bundle. This comprehensive package includes a selection of BudPots, eco-friendly containers designed to optimize root depth and also air-prune roots for healthier plant growth, available in several different sizes.
The package also features BudClips, which the folks at Ganjapreneur say are designed to simplify the process of growing large buds by allowing for easy branch bending, ensuring optimal light and airflow. Completing the set are BudHuggers, durable and soft garden ties that help to increase canopy area and improve plant health.
If you buy now, you can snag the Budtrainer Big Bud Bundle for a relatively modest $49.00.
For the Cannabis Nerd
Lastly, for the loveable nerd on your list—mature or not—who is not averse to reading, there is Interpening by Max Montrose of the Trichome Institute.
Described as a must-have for cannabis lovers who want to refine their understanding and appreciation of the plant, the book delves into the art and science of “interpening,” a unique method of assessing cannabis quality and predicting its psychotropic effects. The method is said to move beyond traditional strain names and hybrid classifications.
More than a simple guide, this book is an educational reference that’s designed to enhance the reader’s ability to evaluate cannabis like a pro—an ideal gift for anyone looking to deepen their cannabis knowledge and become a more informed consumer. Plus it’s connected to a “multi level mastery certification” that has gained recognition in the industry. The course and certification are sold separately.
The book is available via the Trichome Institute for $64.95.
For more gift ideas, we suggest you visit the December 6, 2023 issue of Ganjapreneur.com.
www.ganjapreneur.com/2023-holiday-gift-guide-for-ganjapreneurs/
Cannabis and the Law
It’s starting to look like the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) has borrowed former coach/ESPN analyst Lee Corso’s catch phrase: “Not so fast, my friend.”
As you may remember, recently the state of Georgia announced that it was about to become the first U.S. state to allow pharmacies to sell medical marijuana in the form of cannabis oil. As of October nearly 120 facilities applied to the state to do just that.
However, according to Ben Adlin, writing for Marijuana Moment, it seems the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is warning pharmacies that dispensing THC is unlawful because it remains a Schedule I drug. Which is accurate, under federal law.
Writes Matthew J. Strait, a DEA deputy assistant administrator in the agency’s Diversion Control Division in a letter sent to a Georgia pharmacy, “All DEA registrants, including DEA-registered pharmacies, are required to abide by all relevant federal laws and regulations. A DEA-registered pharmacy may only dispense controlled substances in Schedules II-V of the Controlled Substances Act. Neither marijuana nor THC can lawfully be possessed, handled, or dispensed by any DEA-registered pharmacy.”
Adlin notes that the letter, dated November 27, was first posted online by Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), an anti-cannabis advocacy group (Clearly, they just want to help). Adlin reports that the DEA has not responded to emails from Marijuana Moment attempting to confirm the emails authenticity.
The story gets “curiouser and curiouser,” as Lewis Carroll once wrote. Adlin writes,”One potential complicating factor around DEA’s advisory is a congressional budget rider that prevents the Department of Justice from spending resources to interfere with the implementation of state medical marijuana laws. The provision was first enacted into law in 2014 and was extended last month to at least February 2024.”
We wonder what all this means in light of the recent report that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has asked the DEA to move cannabis from Schedule 1 to the less restrictive status of Schedule 3. Is this a signal that the DEA does not intend to proceed with rescheduling after all, or is it just digging in its heels and flexing its enforcement muscle until the last possible moment?
Inquiring minds want to know.
More news as more news develops.
To learn more, we urge you to read Ben Adlin’s excellent reporting in the December 6, 2023 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
How to Use Cannabis Tax Revenue
We are going to close the year on an up note. TG Branfalt, writing for Ganjapreneur, reports that Arkansas is using medical cannabis tax revenues to fight food insecurity in the state, with $87 million sent to schools throughout the state to help students access low-cost or free lunches.
Branfalt notes that Medical Marijuana Commission spokesperson Scott Hardin told local station KATV that the state has, so far, collected $115 million from the cannabis tax.
Said Harvin, “…If someone is on a reduced school lunch, if they are now paying 50 cents to a dollar – that medical marijuana revenue steps in and pays that to ensure that a student gets that for free. So really students in the state will be not having to pay whatever that burden is. Fifty cents, a $1.50 to have reduced school lunch so it really is, it’s affecting Arkansans in a positive way.”
Cannabis, the plant that keeps on giving.
To learn more, we recommend reading TG Branfalt’s clear and concise reporting in the December 12, 2023 issue of Ganjapreneur.com.
www.ganjapreneur.com/arkansas-using-medical-cannabis-taxes-to-fund-free-school-lunches/?
Senior Cannabis Digest is compiled and edited by Joe Kohut and John Kohut. You can reach them at joe.kohut@gmail.com and at 347-528-8753.
